Questions_from_Industry_and_Answers_-_Final.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 17 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Financial Improvement & Audit Readiness (FIAR) Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- FA7014-17-R-5002
About this file
Revised Questions from Industry and Answers
View the file
Other files for this federal contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FIAR_Industry_Day_Slides_8_Mar_17_v2.pptx | PPTX presentation | |
| Industry_Day_One_on_One_Questions_13_May_2017.pdf | ||
| One-on-One_Schedule_Revised_7_Mar_17.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Volume_and_Frequency_Info_for_FIAR_Systems_7_Mar_17.pptx | PPTX presentation | |
| 2017.03.02_AF_FIAR_Systems.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Questions_from_Industry_and_Answers_-_Final.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| FIAR_Industry_Day_Rules_of_Engagement.docx | DOCX document | |
| One-on-One_Schedule.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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Questions
| Questions from Industry | OPR for Q | Response | |
| A preliminary question that our company would like to submit to the government now is whether the Government is considering using the GSA PSS schedule instead of FBO? | AFDW/PK | Research is being conducted to see what would be most appropriate and advantageous to the Government. | |
| Is the government considering utilizing an acquisition strategy of restricted or unrestricted procurement? | AFDW/PK | We are still conducting market research and will determine, based on the results, the appropriate acquistion strategy. | |
| Would the government consider restricting the procurement to woman owned or HUBZone certified small business? | AFDW/PK | The House Armed Services Committee Defense Financial Management and Auditability Reform Panel Report directed contract support should be from IPA firms. | |
| Will the government consider subcontracting past performance references with equal weight as prime contracting past performance references? | AFDW/PK | The Government is still considering the acquisition strategy for this requirement. | |
| For teaming arrangements that propose on a subsequent solicitation, will subcontractor past performance be acceptable? | AFDW/PK | The Government is still considering the acquisition strategy for this requirement. | |
| 2.2 Task 2 - 2.2.1.4 | Air Force stated "Develop recommendations for an effective governance structure to include an Assessment Implementation Team (AIT), Senior Assessment Team (SAT) and Senior Management Control Council (SMCC)." Is this an advisory board created with the authority given under FACA? | SAF/FM | No, it is not Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). |
| 2.2 Task 2 - 2.2.1.6 | Air Force stated that the contractor shall "Perform an analysis of existing AUs defined in XX and align them to business cycles (Procure to Pay, Order to Cash, Record to Report, etc.) for proper evaluation by the OMB Circular A-123 program." Can the Air Force identify the number controls and business cycles that will be assessed as part of the OMB A-123 program? | SAF/FM | This information will be included in the Bidder's Library. |
| 2.2 Task 2 - 2.2.2.1 | Air Force stated "the contractor shall support the AF in establishing and maintaining Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and control documentation related to 3rd party providers and receivers of services as they impact the AF FIAR business processes." Can the Air Force identify the number of Service Providers that will require MOUs? | SAF/FM | At this time there are 20 MOUs. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.1.1 | Air Force stated that the contractor shall "consider both as-is and to-be business processes and IT systems/environments when recommending CAPs to include efficiencies and adequate solutions are considered for applying CAPs in both environments…" Can the Air Force identify the number of "as-is" and "to-be" systems included in the system environment? | SAF/FM | This information will be included in the Bidder's Library and final RFP. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.2.2 | Can the Air Force please clarify work that has been completed to date on the Universe of Transactions (UoT), such as feeder systems, General Ledgers, and DDRS data inputs? Can the Air Force also please clarify what is in scope for the UoT effort, as outlined in section 2.3.2.2? Additionally, to accurately scope the work, it would be helpful to have details around the number of systems in scope, volume of transactions, etc. | SAF/FM | Details will be provided in Bidder's Library. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.2.2 | Can the Air Force please clarify which aspects of the UoT are still in development versus in sustainment for both 1) the Population Completeness UoT Framework for Full Financial Statements, and 2) the UoT Framework Population Completeness Guide? | SAF/FM | Universe of Transaction documents and related transactions have been completed for Schedule of Budgetary Activity in a legacy (GAFS-R) and ERP (DEAMS) environment. As of 1/31/17, AF continues to work the transactions for Statement of Budgetary Resources and remaining financial statements. Anticipate having data from accounting systems by 9/30/17. Logistical transactions UoT will be manual process for several years. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.2.2 | Air Force stated that the contractor shall "assist SAF/FM with participating in working groups related to UoT." Can the Air Force specify how many working groups related to UoT the contractor will be required to support? Additionally, can the Air Force specify what level of support is required? | SAF/FM | The number of work groups evolves as the ERP matures and the UoTs are developed and maintained. In addition, any Notice of Findings that are issued by the auditor drives the demand. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.2.3 | To accurately scope the work, it would be helpful to understand what the Air Force anticipates for ad-hoc analysis requests over financial statement information and what may be included, such as supporting audit requests, DFAS or sub-allotted data requests, additional analysis for posting logic or tie-point analysis, etc. | SAF/FM | The government is aware this type of support is needed; the financial statement IPA will drive the requests. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.3.1 | Can the Air Force please provide additional detail about what has been completed to date for the reconciliations of the General Fund Mission Critical Assets? Can the Air Force also please clarify which aspects of this reconciliations are still in development versus in sustainment? | SAF/FM | This information will be included in the Bidder's Library. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.3.1 | Can the Air Force please clarify whether it intends for the contractor to automate the reconciliation for the General Fund Mission Critical Assets or sustain a manual reconciliation? | SAF/FM | This information will be finalized in the RFP. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.3.1 | Air Force stated that "manual sustainment of General Fund Mission Critical Assets financial and logistics data reconciliations relevant to General Fund Financial Statements…" Can the Air Force confirm that for this task, only General Fund Financial Statements are in-scope? Additionally, do any PWS tasks include Working Capital Fund activities? | SAF/FM | This information will be finalized in the RFP. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.4.1 | Air Force stated that the contractor shall "assist the government in sustaining beginning balances for each category of asset based on existing strategies and approaches for General Equipment, Operating Materials and Supplies, and Real Property until such time as a Go Forward compliant process in place. This will involve supporting the government in development of processes and procedures to obtain necessary Key Supporting Documentation and updating all associated documentation as it relates to beginning balance effort." Can the Air Force elaborate on the existing strategies in place and provide information about what has been accomplished to date to establish values for the beginning balances for General Equipment, Operating Materials and Supplies, and Real Property? Additionally, to estimate the level of effort to perform this work, it would be helpful to know if Existence and Completeness and Valuation procedures have been completed, and if not, what aspects of it still need to be completed. | SAF/FM | This information will be included in the Bidder's Library. |
| 2.3 Task 3 - 2.3.5.1 | Air Force stated that the contractor shall "provide ongoing support for SAF/FMF in implementing corrective actions and continuing to improve internal controls over key SAF/FMF accrual processes. The contractor shall also assist SAF/FMF in developing, documenting, and implementing accrual methodologies/procedures, controls and processes to mitigate relevant FIAR financial reporting risks." Can the Air Force specify and/or elaborate on the number and type of accrual processes referenced (e.g. legal accruals, service provider accruals, payroll accruals, etc.)? | SAF/FM | This information will be included in the Bidder's Library. |
| 2.5 Task 5 - 2.5.1 & 2.5.4 | Air Force stated "Contractor support shall include systems identified in Appendix TBD." What details will be provided in Appendix TBD associated with each system? Please advise if each system will be designated as having completed previous FIAR baseline assessments or not? | SAF/FM | This information will be included in the Bidder's Library and final RFP. |
| 2.5 Task 5 - 2.5.19 | Air Force stated, "The contractor shall provide support in assisting identified functional communities with the integration of IT Compliance activities into specific corporate initiatives." Can the Air Force identify the number and associated size of identified functional communities? | SAF/FM | The functional communities are: SAF/AQ (Acquisition), AF/A1 (Manpower & Personnel), SAF/FM (Financial Management), and AF/A4 (Logistics). See the systems list for mapping of systems to functional communities. |
| 2.6 Task 6 - 2.6.1 | Air Force stated that "the contractor shall provide broad-based communications and change management support for program management, financial management, and business process improvement and standardization. Strategic communication efforts will enable the AF to achieve the following:" ... What is meant by the last bullet under this heading "Assist the AF Enterprise through anticipated large-scale organizational changes including organizational strategies, adoption of SOPs and auditability efforts". Please be more specific. | SAF/FM | The government cannot determine that at this time. The findings from the financial statement audit will identify issues that need to be addressed and could need corresponding change management across the AF enterprise. The potential awardee will be responsible for suggested agency wide implementation based on it FIAR findings |
| 6.0 Section - 6.7.2 | Air Force stated that the contractor senior executive support personnel shall have "A minimum of ten (10) years of financial statement audit experience OR ten (10) years of AF Financial Management experience (or combination thereof equaling ten (10) years) within the last 15 years". Would the Air Force consider expanding the criteria to allow 10 years of DoD experience? | SAF/FM | Yes |
| General / Various Sections | In the draft PWS, there are several references to information that has not been provided within the draft document, references such as "paragraphs XX and XX" (2.1.5), "Appendix TBD" (2.1.8), "defined in XX" (2.2.1.6), "in coordination with paragraph XX" (2.3.1.1), "in Appendix TBD" (2.5.1), "assessments consisting of:____" (2.5.1), "and shall include" ____, (2.5.4, 9, 10, 13). It is difficult to fully evaluate the PWS without all the referenced information provided, therefore, it would be helpful if such information is included when the solicitation is issued. | SAF/FM | Information will be provided in the final RFP. |
| Overall Comment | If the Air Force intends to issue this as a firm fixed price contract, additional information will be needed to estimate the level of effort for the scope of services. | SAF/FM | Information will be provided in the the RFP. |
| Labor Category Descriptions | The Partner / Principal Labor Category Description includes a CPA Certification. Given the size of the program and the diverse technical and functional skills required to meet the objectives of the PWS tasks, we recommend that the Partner/ Principal Certification requirement be expanded to: "One of the following professional certifications: CPA, CISA, CIA, CGFM, CDFM, PMP". | SAF/FM | The government is still in the process of developing this requirement |
| Labor Category Descriptions | The Partner/ Principal Labor Category Description includes an experience requirement of "performance of financial statement audits in DoD, federal agencies, and/ or commercial Fortune 400 organizations." Given the diverse technical and functional skills required to meet the objectives of the PWS tasks, we recommend the Air Force expand the requirement to 10 years of functional and/or technical experience in their stated area of specialty (i.e. data analytics, cyber security, transformational change management). | SAF/FM | The government is still in the process of developing this requirement |
| Labor Category Descriptions | The Senior Task Manager Labor Category includes a requirement for experience performing financial statement audits in DoD, federal agencies , or commercial Fortune 400 organizations. Given the diverse set of professional certifications associated with the labor category (CPA, CISA, CIA, CGFM, CDFM), recommend that the experience requirement be stated as "8 years of progressive experience in leading financial management services and related projects." Additionally, given the project management requirements depicted in the labor category description, we recommend that Air Force include the PMP in the Certifications listed. | SAF/FM | The government is still in the process of developing this requirement |
| Labor Category Descriptions | The Technical Analyst labor category includes a requirement of four or more years experience in relevant fields. We agree that experience in these areas is an important staffing consideration, however, in many of these areas, at junior levels, two years of experience should be considered relevant to perform execution level tasks within the PWS. | SAF/FM | The government is still in the process of developing this requirement |
| Do you still have slots open for one on one? If so, how can we reserve a slot? | AFDW/PK | At this time there are 4 slots available for one-on-one's. You cannot schedule one ahead of time; however, if you want to brief, we are offering the slots on a first-come first-serve basis on Industry Day. Please review the announcement on FBO to get details. | |
| If we don’t get a slot, can we still attend the event and learn on what Air Force is looking for? | AFDW/PK | The deadline for registration for Industry Day was 3 March 2017 by 12:00 PM. We are not accepting any new registrants at this time. | |
| Can we attend other one on one sessions or is it restricted to only to presenters? | AFDW/PK | No. The one-on-one sessions are only for RFI respondents. Any additional slots will be conducted on a first come first serve basis on the day of the event. | |
| What type of information would you like us to share during one on one? | AFDW/PK | There will be canned questions provided from the government to industry. Each company that is doing a one-on-one is required to provide the government with their questions ahead of time.You can find information about industry day here: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7557ccc3f31624d16fc3e769cff49e73&tab=core&_cview=1 | |
| We couldn’t find the RFI document on fbo.gov. Can you send us the link or document? | AFDW/PK | You can find the link to the RFI here: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=d9b94c89c5d370c21c9f1144c755f77e&tab=core&_cview=0 | |
| Are you encouraging small business participation? | AFDW/PK | Yes. We are still in the market research phase at this time. |
&A
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